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Programs

The Austin Healthy Adolescent (AHA) Program engages, empowers, and collaborates with communities across Travis County to support youth in taking ownership of their own health and working to advance the health of their communities.

The Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates. Birth and death records are confidential and available only to the person named on the certificate, immediate family, or legal representatives with proper documentation.

Health begins where we live, learn, work, and play. Our opportunity for health starts long before we need medical care. All Americans should have the opportunity to make the choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of income, education, or ethnic background. (Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

Using federal dollars, the City of Austin is improving the health outcomes of our community. Through the 1115 funding source, projects enhance access to health care, increase quality of care, or increase the cost-effectiveness of care and the health of the patient and families served.

The 78744 Community Youth Development Program is a state funded program which provides an array of juvenile delinquency prevention services to support families and enhance the positive development of youth only in the 78744 zip code.

Need help? First Workers, the City of Austin Day Labor Center, is here to help. Open six days a week and offering quick drive-through service, First Workers' can provide you with laborers skilled in a variety of trades.

The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak is centered on three countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, although there is the potential for further spread to neighboring African countries. Ebola does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public. There are no known cases of Ebola in the Austin/Travis County area.

Austin Public Health is a great department to join. We are proud of our diverse workforce and the work they do. Employees at all levels are selected based on their qualifications, skills, and abilities.

Disease surveillance is at the heart of a public health system. It is used to monitor disease trends over time, to detect disease outbreaks, and to increase our knowledge of risk factors that contribute to disease development.

Influenza, more commonly known as the “flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can be mild or severe. Most people will have mild illness and will not need medical care and will recover in less than two weeks.

Serious outcomes of the flu can result in hospitalization or even death. Some people are more susceptible to complications of the flu, including the elderly, young children, those with compromised immune systems, and people with certain health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Austin Public Health conducts the permitting and inspection of more than 4,000 food establishments in Austin, several local municipalities and rural Travis County. Food establishments should be inspected twice a year. If unable to be inspected at this frequency, then inspections are prioritized by risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that roughly one in six Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 visit the hospital, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases every year. Personnel training programs serve to educate employees in food safety techniques and the prevention of foodborne illness.

The Food Protection system promotes health and prevents disease through education, training, and regulation, in partnership with operators and employees of the nearly 5,000 food service establishments in Austin and Travis County.

The City of Austin's graffiti initiative -- Make Art Not Marks -- is an effort to increase awareness and education about graffiti in our community, including how to report and remove illegal graffiti, as well as providing opportunities for local artists to nurture the creative culture that thrives in Austin.

The Health Equity Unit works provides community-based programs and services to ensure all our residents have the opportunity to reach their full health potential no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, or income level.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter — even in microscopic amounts — from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces, or stool, of an infected person.

The HIV Resource Administration Unit (HRAU) is responsible for procuring HIV/AIDS primary medical care, treatment, and health-related support services for the City of Austin-funded HIV Prevention and Care Services, as well as multiple federal grants, including Ryan White Part A and the Minority AIDS initiative, Ryan White Part C, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

The injury prevention program works to improve public health by taking actions to prevent injuries before they happen. The program works with partners in the community to incorporate injury prevention efforts into their ongoing programs.

The Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit monitors the incidence of confirmed and probable pertussis cases reported to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and issues periodic updates of the status of the investigations.

Under a grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Refugee Health Screening Clinic provides services to refugees relocating to the Austin/Travis County area. Services are also provided to asylees (individuals who are allowed to stay permanently in safety in the United States), Cubans who enter the US under the Cuban Adjustment Act, and Certified Victims of Human Trafficking.

The funding provided to local community-based organizations focuses on services for the client. When we support well-being we ensure that everyone can reach their potential and contribute to the community. Programs must be evidence-based, research-based, or promising practices which promote self-sufficiency across a life continuum, from birth to old age.

The Tuberculosis clinic provides evaluation of clients for latent and active TB disease. The clinic is equipped with complete X-ray facilities, an environmental isolation chamber for sputum collection, and a special ventilation system to protect people from infection while in the clinic.

Typhus prevention is directly related to flea control. The Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit monitors the incidence of confirmed and probable typhus cases reported to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and issues periodic updates of the status of the investigations.

Walk Texas ACTIVE AUSTIN is a 10-week program designed to help you begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle. For 10 weeks, participants record their daily/weekly physical activity, which converts to points depending on the number of active minutes and the intensity of the activity. At the end of the program, medals are given based on total points.

Water that is fluoridated at a level optimal for oral health (as is used in Austin) poses no known health risks for infants. However, some children may develop enamel fluorosis, a cosmetic condition where faint white markings or streaks may appear on the teeth. Fluorosis can affect both baby teeth and permanent teeth while they're forming under the gums.

Mosquitoes are among the most important insect pests affecting the health of people. They are not just annoying; they can also transmit many diseases. A rainy spring proceded by a mild winter, can lead to an active mosquito season.

For an appointment, call 512-972-4942

WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, mothers, and young children. Participants learn about nutrition and how to stay healthy, and receive benefits to purchase healthy foods. Services are free to those who are eligible.

Mission

Austin is committed to being the most family friendly city in the country with policies and decisions that support and enhance the quality of life for families and children. This commitment should then be realized through structures which ensure every major city policy is evaluated for its effect on families with children.